iPhone and Android users love to bicker about who’s best but Google is trying to get them to shake hands, with Apple seemingly agreeing. Well, at least in terms of text messaging but hey, you gotta start somewhere!
In September 2024, the Cupertino-based tech titan decided to bring Rich Communication Services into its ecosystem with the update to iOS 18.1
Despite the initial resistance, Apple must have finally realised that RCS is on the rise and that it’s important to bridge the communication gap moving forward.
💡 The global mobile network has relayed approximately 1,500,000,000,000 (that’s 1.5 trillion) RCS messages in 2024, including both P2P and A2P communication. By 2029 this number is expected to quadruple to 6 trillion.
Various stakeholder have taken steps to increase cross-platform adoption of RCS but things aren’t all peaches and cream just yet. As of January 2025, 68% of all iPhones have upgraded to iOS 18, marking a move in the right direction, while also showing there’s more to be done still.
That said, here’s all you need to know about RCS on iPhones in 2025.
Apple finally supports RCS with iOS 18
Finally? Why wouldn’t Apple support RCS on iOS from the get-go?
Well, one essential fact about RCS, the SMS and MMS rightful successor, is that its development has been supported and promoted by Google for some 10+ years now, with the goal of making it THE messaging standard on all Android smartphones.
The two tech companies have been direct competitors in the mobile market, with iMogul heavily investing in its proprietary systems. The two not fully agreeing with each other on how text messaging should work comes as no surprise then.
During WWDC 2024 however, Apple announced, among other things, that it’s joining the party and will gradually facilitate media-rich texting between iPhone and Android devices by adopting RCS.
iOS and Android are coming together to facilitate rich, cross-platform messaging.
The announcement marked a major shift towards making multimedia-rich, cross-platform messaging possible. It’s now 2025, so where are we with this currently?
Is RCS messaging available on all iOS phones?
RCS rollout to iPhones started with the release of iOS 18. The list of compatible models, which by association means devices capable of sending and receiving RCS texts, includes iPhone XR through iPhone 16 Pro Max, as well second- and third-generation iPhone SE. That’s as of publishing of this article.
If you’re one of the lucky owners, make sure you enable RCS on your phone by navigating to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging.
Why does RCS on Apple devices matter?
RCS is great and all but was it actually necessary? Couldn’t iPhone holders do just fine with their Apple messages?
Well, RCS on Apple matters for two main reasons:
It makes the exchange of more dynamic, interactive, media-rich messages between iPhone and Android users possible, something that hasn’t been the case up until now. This creates a more exciting experience for both ends of this communication line.
It brings brands into the mix as well, allowing them to design and deliver unified, engaging campaigns to the users of both iOS and Android systems. No longer will they have to pay special attention to the mobile OS when sending their rich, interactive campaign.
iMessage vs. RCS – a new platform for Apple users
The arrival of RCS on iOS 18 doesn’t mean iMessage users have to say goodbye to their beloved texting app. All the messaging features they know and enjoy remain.
💡 Instead, RCS complements iMessage by creating a more feature-rich experience when communicating with Android users or businesses. Now, when you see a green bubble, it means you’ve received an RCS rather than a basic SMS.
For everyday users, this means iPhone-to-Android messaging is finally catching up, with typing indicators, read receipts, and high-resolution media sharing. But for businesses, RCS opens entirely new opportunities that even iMessage doesn’t provide.
iMessage vs. RCS: How they compare
Feature
iMessage (Apple-to-Apple)
RCS (iOS & Android)
Typing indicators
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Read receipts
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
High-resolution media
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Group chats with full features
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Reactions (tapbacks, emoji responses)
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Works over Wi-Fi & mobile data
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
End-to-end encryption
✅ Yes
🚫 Limited (Google Messages offers it, but not universally supported in RBM)
While iMessage remains the default choice for personal conversations between iPhone users, RCS surpasses both iMessage and SMS when it comes to business communication. You can now use RCS Business Messaging (RBM) to create rich, interactive customer experiences, something iMessage doesn’t support at scale.
Instead of generic SMS, you can send visually engaging messages with images, carousels, buttons, and verified sender badges. These features help drive higher engagement rates and trust compared to traditional text messaging.
Rich messaging features available with RCS.
Additionally, RCS communication offers interactive features such as appointment scheduling, customer surveys, and direct purchase options, all within the messaging app.
With Apple adopting RCS, you gain a unified way to reach both iOS and Android users with modern, feature-rich messaging, bridging a long-standing gap in cross-platform communication.
Is it safe to use RCS on your iPhone?
Communication security is one of the foundational features of RCS. End-to-end encryption is provided for exchanges between the Google Messages app users and iMessage users, however, it isn’t there just yet for cross-platform messaging.
Text chats bridging the system gap are protected using TLS (Transport Layer Security) for now, which is a cryptographic protocol widely used for instant messaging, for example. Plans are in place, however, to introduce E2E for all communication between Android and Apple users eventually.
What we know about Apple RBM support (A2P messaging)
Google and Apple meeting in the middle so far mostly benefits regular Android and iPhone users. Steps are being taken, though, to let businesses enjoy the riches of RCS as well.
RBM (RCS Business Messaging) is basically the A2P version of P2P RCS, made available with the release of iOS 18.1.
💡 Importantly, however, although Apple has made the latest version of its operating system capable of handling the business-oriented RBM, its reach is somewhat limited still. Not every carrier supports RCS on iPhones just yet.
As of January 2025, you can run RBM campaigns targeting iOS-operating smartphones in the following countries:
Belgium
France
Germany
Spain
United Kingdom
Canada
United States
Where is RCS Business Messaging available?
As mobile network operators increasingly join the party, brands can already experiment with the business version of RCS, sending smaller, test campaigns to selected iPhone owners.
How would a business know the scale of legible users in their database?
Capitalising on early-stage RBM adoption on iOS
✅ Adopting RBM now allows your brand to stand out in a crowded market by embracing exclusivity and innovation. By being one of the first to leverage RBM on iOS, you signal to your customers that you’re at the forefront of technological advancements.
This early-mover advantage builds a reputation for innovation and creates buzz through exclusive offers and experiences that resonate with tech-savvy audiences eager to try something new.
✅ Focusing on high-value segments is another smart strategy. Instead of rolling out a mass campaign, you can target regions and carriers already supporting RBM such as key markets in the U.S., Western Europe, or Canada.
Running carefully designed pilot programs in these areas helps you understand customer behaviours, fine-tune your messaging, and build a strong case for scaling your efforts. Such a segmented approach ensures that your early tests generate actionable insights without the risk and expense of a broad rollout.
✅ RBM’s advanced features like interactive buttons, dynamic product showcases, and media-rich catalogues can transform customer engagement on iOS.
Experimenting with these capabilities through test campaigns allows you to directly measure how consumers interact with your content, providing valuable data to refine your strategies. Assuming a hands-on approach drives immediate engagement and sets the stage for long-term success as RBM’s adoption continues to grow.
Benefits of early RCS Business Messaging adoption.
Apple brings RCS to iPhone with carrier support growing
Rich Communication Services, despite originating with Google, have already arrived on iPhones, although the scale of support and coverage isn’t yet ideal.
RCS and RBM entering the world of Apple is a development benefitting both regular users and brands. It creates a genuinely more exciting experience for customers and offers businesses the opportunity to extend their reach.
Mobile carriers, understanding the impact of the emerging communication standard, gradually adjust.
Growing expansion of Rich Communication Services.
Curious about RCS Business Messaging?
Over at MessageFlow, we follow further developments in this matter closely. Crucially, we’re also working directly with GSM operators to expand carrier support and bring RCS to as many iPhones and Android devices as possible.
The process continues until every major global carrier supports RCS and mobile operating systems are in agreement on the new, versatile, rich messaging standard that’s starting to catch traction. This now seems to be only a matter of time.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from all this is that NOW is the best moment to get on board and become an early adopter of RCS.
While regular users are enjoying features like:
Read receipts
Typing indicators
Group chats
File and media upload
Brands can go a step further with:
Image carousels
Action buttons
Communication scenarios
RCS chatbots
Map and payments integrations
to start interacting with, engaging, and converting customers in ways that truly haven’t been possible before.
In 2024, we delivered nearly 5.5 million RCS for our customers and are looking to increase this number in 2025. We’re here for you, so let’s talk about how you can start reaching RCS users on Apple’s mobile devices.
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